Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 - Podcast Rankings and reviews

The Now Show is always topical, refreshing and with a unique take on the week’s events. Never fails to make me laugh...or at least smile a lot.

I grew up listening to the News Quiz with Barry Took and Giles Coren in the 1980s and 1990s. It was essential listening. From being a precocious teenager onwards into middle age, it has been a part of my life. The need for a satirical approach to the news, for a more critical interpretation of politician-speak and spin-doctor drivel. Sandi Toksvig was fantastic. Then there were the rotating guest hosts, some better than others of course. Look, I know I’m a privileged middle aged white bloke but... the recent incarnation of the News Quiz is just not that great. There just isn’t the charisma of the guests nor insight into the issues there used to be. But the News Quiz is comparatively light years ahead of the other programmes in the slot. The Now Show is just painfully unfunny and any other comedy shows they add between their runs just shows up how poor BBC Radio comedy is these days. Radio comedy used to be a lifeline during dark days and troubled times. Now it’s mostly an embarrassment of attention seeking shallow wannabe celebs and stand up comedians. Proper satire: we need you now more than ever! Where the heck are you?

Fun skits and commentary on the news and daily life.
Writing & performing is top notch.
Going to a BBC show taping is a great experience.

A brilliant comedic production with a diverse panel and AWESOME host!

Topical, timely and outrageously funny in a nutty time in world history.

Loved Radio 4 comedy since I was a kid listening to the news quiz in the 90s. But recent incarnations of the podcast are clearly just showcasing diversity and inclusion (very laudable) but it turns out that it’s just not particularly funny and a little bit preachy. Sorry, I wish it worked, but it doesn’t.

This is so dull it’s almost like a satire of a rubbish comedy show. I listened to the whole thing half because I was so astonished to hear the sound of laughter throughout that I was addicted to just hearing if I could recognise the canned laughter between jokes.

Content wise, style wise, everything wise…. Poor.